The Round 18 PlayStation® 4 NPL Northern NSW Match of the Round was one of the biggest matches of the 2015 season, with the most at stake as Edgeworth Eagles hosted Weston Workers.
Edgeworth FC 3 def. Weston Workers FC 1
Sun 16 August 2:30 PM
Jack McLaughlan Oval
Match of the Round
Edgeworth entered the round in first place, however dropped to second after the Jaffas defeated South Cardiff the day prior. The Eagles knew that a win would get them over the line and see them finish 2015 as Premiers, and if Hamilton lost to Maitland a draw could do the same.
Weston began the round in fifth, trailing Magic by goal difference. They needed to win, and Magic to lose or draw to make the top four and the finals series.
Edgeworth struck first, going ahead 1-0 in the 13th minute. Tim Pratt saved a Brody Taylor shot but forced a corner, which Aaron McLoughlin whipped in only for Bears captain Carl Thornton to turn it into his own net.
Edgeworth looked set to go into the break ahead 1-0 however Thornton stood up for the Bears, making a 15 metre run into the box in the 45th minute, blasting a strike into the bottom left hand corner to send the sides into the break locked at 1-1.
Both sides fought tirelessly after the break for their second, however 30 minutes into the half it was still 1-1.
Adamstown Rosebud FC 2 def. Newcastle Jets Youth 1
Sat 15 August 2:30 PM
Adamstown Oval
The first match of Round 18 of the PS4 NPL took place at Adamstown Oval as the Rosebud hosted the Newcastle Jets Youth.
It was both sides’ last match of the season, as neither could make the finals, or even move up or down on the ladder, with Adamstown sixth and the Jets Youth seventh.
The Jets Youth entered the match with a number of regular faces missing due to a first team training camp, holidays, and injury.
The Rosebud began the better of the two sides, and went into half time with a 1-0 lead after Nick Bale’s strike on the half hour mark separated the sides.
Lambton Jaffas FC 2 def. South Cardiff FC 1
Sat 15 August 2:30 PM
Arthur Edden Oval
The second match on Saturday afternoon saw the Jaffas presented with the chance to move to the top of the PS4 NPL ladder, for a night at least, as they took on the South Cardiff Gunners.
With the higher ranked Hamilton and Edgeworth playing on Sunday the Jaffas could finish the night in top spot, then hope that results went their way the following day and finish the season as champions.
The Gunners’ fate was all but sealed the week before, however there was still a slight chance they may not be relegated if they recorded a large win over Lambton, and Hamilton did the same against Maitland.
Both sides battled hard in the first half for the opening goal of the game, however neither could deliver as they went into half time locked at 0-0.
Hamilton Olympic FC 0 def. by Maitland FC 2
Sun 16 August 2:30 PM
Darling Street Oval
The second match on Sunday afternoon was played at Darling Street Oval, where Hamilton Olympic were playing with a chance at becoming the 2015 Premiers as they hosted ninth placed Maitland.
They needed a just point to go past Lambton Jaffas, but with Edgeworth a point ahead Hamilton knew a win was necessary, but may not even be enough.
Maitland were playing for pride, and with Charlestown just a point ahead and playing Broadmeadow, they had the chance to move into eighth.
The sides went into the break locked at 0-0. Both pushed hard for the opening goal however it was a frustrating half for both sets of attackers.
It remained 1-0 until late in the second half when Harry McGuire netted for the away side, making the score 1-0 to Maitland.
Broadmeadow FC 2 def. Charlestown City Blues FC 0
Sun 16 August 2:30 PM
Magic Park
The final match of Round 18 of the Northern New South Wales PS4 NPL saw a confident Broadmeadow outfit go up against ninth placed Charlestown at Magic Park.
Magic knew that a win would guarantee them a finals appearance, which looked out of sight after Round 15 when they were six points outside the top four.
A win would give them three in a row and a fair deal of confidence going into the semi final against the side who finished the season as Premiers out of Lambton, Edgeworth and Hamilton.
Charlestown were simply looking to finish their season on a high, and hopefully in eighth place after a disappointing 2015 campaign.
Magic struck the first blow of the game, going ahead 1-0 in the 23rd minute. Dino Fajkovic made a brilliant run down the left hand side, cutting the ball across to Calllan Lewis who buried the close range chance into the bottom right hand corner.
Both sides had their chances in the opening 45 minutes, however Lewis’ goal was the only one of the half as Magic went into the break ahead 1-0.
Click here for a full match from all of the weekend's matches.